Saturday A Not So Good Day NS Birmingham East End

[NSSpike]

Saturday April 18 was not a good day for the NS Birmingham East End operations. Around 8:30am west bound A27 (BRUNSWICK GA  VANCE ALA) with single engine NS 9846 leading, stalled on the main line just west of CP Ben Hill. The crew was unable to resolve the problem with the help of MOC. The only option was to have loaded counterpart NS A26 (VANCE ALA - BRUNSWICK GA) cut their power on the main line at Winston from their loaded east bound auto-rack and pull the disabled A27 into the siding between Baggett and Villa Rica. The plan was to have A26 with two units, NS 9196 in the lead give 27A their trailing unit NS 6686. Below, A26 heads west at MP 662.5 North Baggett road with NS A27 in tow.


Before the engine move can be made at the west end of the siding at Villa Rica, A27 must allow AMTK 19 (NY / New Orleans La.) to pass on the mainline.


After AMTK 19 has cleared the siding west turnout, A26 cuts loose from A27 train and proceeds west and the two units will separate.


The A26, NS 9196 heads east on the main line and will assist A27 with the arming of their EOT and required air / brake tests. They will then proceed east and after a reverse move couple back up to their train that was tied down on the main line at Winston. A relief crew will be waiting to help assist with the necessary requirements then take the train on into Atlanta.


NS A27 (BRUNSWICK GA  VANCE ALA) now with a new lead motor holds the siding as NS 220 (DALLAS, TX (KCS IDAAT)- ATLANTA, GA) with a pair of Southern Belle units heads east on the mainline in downtown Villa Rica Georgia.


NS 24E (DALLAS, TX (KCS IDAAT2) - ATLANTA, GA) east bound at MP673.7 Old Villa Rica Road crossing with another pair of Southern Belle units will follow A26 into Atlanta.


The Not So Good Part
With 23E (ATLANTA, GA - DALLAS, TX (KCS IATDA2) now on the siding at Winston, 26A gets back on their train which they left on the mainline and the relief crew takes the train east toward Atlanta. By just a little after noon all trains have reported their delays to the dispatcher and traffic begins moving. A26 relief crew after getting their train into Atlanta will taxi back out west and take NS 290's (MCCALLA, AL - CROXTON, NJ) train into Atlanta because they have run out of hours due to the earlier days. Sadly, A26, not more then 20 minutes after taking over hit a trespasser just east of downtown Douglasville in the area of Young Refinery. Details are not known and after about an hour and 45 minutes later A26 was allowed to continue east. If any new information is obtained related to the incident, this post will be updated